Umbrella anchor

Abstract

The present invention is an anchor for a beach umbrella or the like. The umbrella anchor of the present invention includes generally an anchor bag configured to receive the end of a conventional beach umbrella shaft and an upper harness provided for securing the upper end of the umbrella shaft to the anchor bag. The anchor bag is filled with sand or other earthen material removed from a hole into which the anchor bag is placed while the umbrella anchor of the present invention is being deployed. An upper harness is mounted on the umbrella shaft and then releasable connected to an anchor bag harness fixed to the anchor bag. The umbrella anchor may further include a storage bag for receiving the anchor bag and proximal end of the beach umbrella when the umbrella is closed for storage, or for holding miscellaneous items when the umbrella is opened and anchored.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An umbrella anchor for anchoring a conventional umbrella into a selected earthen material, the conventional umbrella including an umbrella shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and a canopy disposed at the distal end of the umbrella shaft, said umbrella anchor comprising:
 an anchor bag configured to be received within a hole defined below grade by removing a selected volume of earthen material from the ground and for receiving at least a portion of said selected volume of earthen material, said anchor bag including:
 an anchor bag substrate fabricated from a durable material having an upper surface and a lower surface when laid flat, said bag substrate defining a perimeter about which is formed a circumferential hem extending substantially about said perimeter, said circumferential hem defining a first opening at a first end thereof and a second opening at a second end thereof, and said anchor bag substrate defining a through opening at an approximate center thereof for receiving at least a portion of the conventional umbrella shaft proximal end; 
 a drawstring received within said circumferential hem, said drawstring defining a first end extending from said first opening in said circumferential hem and a second end extending from said second opening in said circumferential hem, said drawstring provided for reducing said perimeter of said anchor bag substrate when said portion of said selected volume of earthen material is placed on said anchor bag substrate; and 
 a conventional cord lock configured to slidably receive said drawstring first and second ends, said cord lock being slidable along said drawstring when engaged and to maintain a relative position with said drawstring when not engaged; 
 
 an anchor bag harness disposed on and carried by said anchor bag substrate lower surface, said anchor bag harness including:
 a plurality of anchor bag harness straps, each defining a proximal end disposed proximate said anchor bag substrate through opening and a distal end extending beyond said anchor bag substrate perimeter, said plurality of anchor bag harness straps being oriented radially away from said anchor bag substrate through opening and being substantially equally spaced apart in an angular array, a portion of each of said plurality of anchor bag harness straps from about said proximal end to about said anchor bag substrate perimeter being selectively secured to said anchor bag substrate; and 
 a plurality of first mating portions of a conventional buckle, one each of said plurality of first mating portions for engaging said distal end of one each of said plurality of anchor bag harness straps; and 
 
 an upper harness removably attached to the umbrella shaft, and releasably attached to said anchor bag harness, said upper harness including:
 a mounting ring configured to be releasably attachable to said conventional umbrella shaft at a selected location; 
 a plurality of upper harness straps, each defining a proximal end secured to said mounting ring and a distal end, said plurality of upper harness straps being substantially equally spaced apart in an angular array relative to each other of said plurality of upper harness straps, wherein said plurality of upper harness straps is equal to said plurality of anchor bag harness straps; 
 a plurality of second mating portions of said conventional buckle, one each of said plurality of second mating portions for engaging said distal end of one each of said plurality of upper harness straps, and one each of said plurality of second mating portions of said conventional buckle being releasably engageable with one of said plurality of first mating portions of said conventional buckle to form a plurality of anchor bag harness strap/upper harness strap pairs, wherein one of said plurality of first mating portions and said plurality of second mating portions is slidably received on a respective of said plurality of anchor bag harness straps and said plurality of upper harness straps in order to adjust tension on each of said plurality of anchor bag harness strap/upper harness strap pairs; and 
 at least one retaining strap configured to encircle and be secured to each of said plurality of upper harness straps at a selected location, in order to maintain said angular array. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The umbrella anchor of  claim 1  wherein said earthen material is sand and wherein said conventional umbrella is a beach umbrella. 
     
     
       3. The umbrella anchor of  claim 1  wherein said anchor bag harness further includes a ring member defining an opening having an inner diameter, said ring being disposed proximate said anchor bag substrate through opening, wherein said proximal end of each of said plurality of anchor bag harness straps is received through said ring opening and secured to itself in a conventional manner. 
     
     
       4. The umbrella anchor of  claim 3  wherein each of said anchor bag substrate through opening and said ring member opening are larger than a diameter of at least a portion of said umbrella shaft. 
     
     
       5. The umbrella anchor of  claim 1  wherein each of said plurality of first mating portions is a male portion and is configured to be slidably engaged with one each of said plurality of anchor bag harness strap distal ends, and wherein each of said plurality of second mating portions is a female portion and is fixedly secured to one each of said plurality of upper harness strap distal ends. 
     
     
       6. The umbrella anchor of  claim 1  further comprising a storage bag, said storage bag configured to receive at least said anchor bag and said umbrella shaft proximal end when said anchor bag is not in use and is disposed about said umbrella shaft proximal end, said storage bag defining:
 an open end defining a perimeter about which is formed a circumferential hem extending substantially about said perimeter, said circumferential hem defining a first opening at a first end thereof and a second opening at a second end thereof; 
 a drawstring received within said circumferential hem, said drawstring defining a first end extending from said first opening in said circumferential hem and a second end extending from said second opening in said circumferential hem, said drawstring provided for reducing said perimeter of said storage bag when said anchor bag and said umbrella shaft proximal end are received within said storage bag; and 
 a conventional cord lock configured to slidably receive said drawstring first and second ends, said cord lock being slidable along said drawstring when engaged and to maintain a relative position with said drawstring when not engaged. 
 
     
     
       7. The umbrella anchor of  claim 6  wherein:
 said upper harness further including:
 an auxiliary strap defining a proximal end secured in a conventional manner at a selected location to said upper harness and a distal end; and 
 a first mating portion of a conventional buckle carried by said distal end of said auxiliary strap; and 
 
 said storage bag further including: 
 an attachment strap defining a proximal end secured to said storage bag and a distal end; and
 a second mating portion of said conventional buckle carried by said distal end of said attachment strap and releasably securable to said first mating portion such that when said umbrella anchor is employed, said storage bag may be removably secured to said upper harness to store miscellaneous personal items. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The umbrella anchor of  claim 7  wherein said first mating portion is a female portion and wherein said second mating portion is a male portion. 
     
     
       9. The anchor bag of  claim 1  wherein said at least one retaining strap includes an upper retaining strap disposed proximate said proximal end of each of said plurality of upper harness straps and a lower retaining strap disposed proximate said distal end of each of said plurality of the upper harness straps, wherein said upper retaining strap defines a first length and said lower retaining strap defines a second length longer than said first length. 
     
     
       10. An umbrella anchor for anchoring a conventional umbrella into a selected earthen material, the conventional umbrella including an umbrella shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and a canopy disposed at the distal end of the umbrella shaft, said umbrella anchor comprising:
 an anchor bag configured to be received within a hole defined below grade by removing a selected volume of earthen material from the ground and for receiving at least a portion of said selected volume of earthen material, said anchor bag including:
 an anchor bag substrate fabricated from a durable material having an upper surface and a lower surface when laid flat, said bag substrate defining a perimeter about which is formed a circumferential hem extending substantially about said perimeter, said circumferential hem defining a first opening at a first end thereof and a second opening at a second end thereof, and said anchor bag substrate defining a through opening at an approximate center thereof for receiving at least a portion of the conventional umbrella shaft proximal end; 
 a drawstring received within said circumferential hem, said drawstring defining a first end extending from said first opening in said circumferential hem and a second end extending from said second opening in said circumferential hem, said drawstring provided for reducing said perimeter of said anchor bag substrate when said portion of said selected volume of earthen material is placed on said anchor bag substrate; and 
 a conventional cord lock configured to slidably receive said drawstring first and second ends, said cord lock being slidable along said drawstring when engaged and to maintain a relative position with said drawstring when not engaged; 
 
 an anchor bag harness disposed on and carried by said anchor bag substrate lower surface, said anchor bag harness including:
 a plurality of anchor bag harness straps, each defining a proximal end disposed proximate said anchor bag substrate through opening and a distal end extending beyond said anchor bag substrate perimeter, said plurality of anchor bag harness straps being oriented radially away from said anchor bag substrate through opening and being substantially equally spaced apart in an angular array, a portion of each of said plurality of anchor bag harness straps from about said proximal end to about said anchor bag substrate perimeter being selectively secured to said anchor bag substrate; 
 a plurality of first mating portions of a conventional buckle, one each of said plurality of first mating portions for engaging said distal end of one each of said plurality of anchor bag harness straps; and 
 a ring member defining an opening having an inner diameter, said ring being disposed proximate said anchor bag substrate through opening, wherein said proximal end of each of said plurality of anchor bag harness straps is received through said ring opening and secured to itself in a conventional manner, wherein each of said anchor bag substrate through opening and said ring member opening are larger than a diameter of at least a portion of said umbrella shaft; 
 
 an upper harness removably attached to the umbrella shaft, and releasably attached to said anchor bag harness, said upper harness including:
 a mounting ring configured to be releasably attachable to said conventional umbrella shaft at a selected location; 
 a plurality of upper harness straps, each defining a proximal end secured to said mounting ring and a distal end, said plurality of upper harness straps being substantially equally spaced apart in an angular array relative to each other of said plurality of upper harness straps, wherein said plurality of upper harness straps is equal to said plurality of anchor bag harness straps; 
 a plurality of second mating portions of said conventional buckle, one each of said plurality of second mating portions for engaging said distal end of one each of said plurality of upper harness straps, and one each of said plurality of second mating portions of said conventional buckle being releasably engageable with one of said plurality of first mating portions of said conventional buckle to form a plurality of anchor bag harness strap/upper harness strap pairs, wherein one of said plurality of first mating portions and said plurality of second mating portions is slidably received on a respective of said plurality of anchor bag harness straps and said plurality of upper harness straps in order to adjust tension on each of said plurality of anchor bag harness strap/upper harness strap pairs; and 
 at least one retaining strap configured to encircle and be secured to each of said plurality of upper harness straps at a selected location, in order to maintain said angular array; and 
 
 a storage bag, said storage bag configured to receive at least said anchor bag and said umbrella shaft proximal end when said anchor bag is not in use and is disposed about said umbrella shaft proximal end, said storage bag defining:
 an open end defining a perimeter about which is formed a circumferential hem extending substantially about said perimeter, said circumferential hem defining a first opening at a first end thereof and a second opening at a second end thereof; 
 a drawstring received within said circumferential hem, said drawstring defining a first end extending from said first opening in said circumferential hem and a second end extending from said second opening in said circumferential hem, said drawstring provided for reducing said perimeter of said storage bag when said anchor bag and said umbrella shaft proximal end are received within said storage bag; and 
 a conventional cord lock configured to slidably receive said drawstring first and second ends, said cord lock being slidable along said drawstring when engaged and to maintain a relative position with said drawstring when not engaged. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The umbrella anchor of  claim 10  wherein said earthen material is sand and wherein said conventional umbrella is a beach umbrella. 
     
     
       12. The umbrella anchor of  claim 10  wherein each of said plurality of first mating portions is a male portion and is configured to be slidably engaged with one each of said plurality of anchor bag harness strap distal ends, and wherein each of said plurality of second mating portions is a female portion and is fixedly secured to one each of said plurality of upper harness strap distal ends. 
     
     
       13. The umbrella anchor of  claim 10  wherein:
 said upper harness further including:
 an auxiliary strap defining a proximal end secured in a conventional manner at a selected location to said upper harness and a distal end; and 
 a first mating portion of a conventional buckle carried by said distal end of said auxiliary strap; and 
 
 said storage bag further including:
 an attachment strap defining a proximal end secured to said storage bag and a distal end; and 
 a second mating portion of said conventional buckle carried by said distal end of said attachment strap and releasably securable to said first mating portion such that when said umbrella anchor is employed, said storage bag may be removably secured to said upper harness to store miscellaneous personal items. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The umbrella anchor of  claim 13  wherein said first mating portion is a female portion and wherein said second mating portion is a male portion. 
     
     
       15. The anchor bag of  claim 10  wherein said at least one retaining strap includes an upper retaining strap disposed proximate said proximal end of each of said plurality of upper harness straps and a lower retaining strap disposed proximate said distal end of each of said plurality of the upper harness straps, wherein said upper retaining strap defines a first length and said lower retaining strap defines a second length longer than said first length. 
     
     
       16. An umbrella anchor for anchoring a conventional umbrella into a selected earthen material, the conventional umbrella including an umbrella shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and a canopy disposed at the distal end of the umbrella shaft, said umbrella anchor comprising:
 an anchor bag configured to be received within a hole defined below grade by removing a selected volume of earthen material from the ground and for receiving at least a portion of said selected volume of earthen material, said anchor bag including:
 an anchor bag substrate fabricated from a durable material having an upper surface and a lower surface when laid flat, said bag substrate defining a perimeter about which is formed a circumferential hem extending substantially about said perimeter, said circumferential hem defining a first opening at a first end thereof and a second opening at a second end thereof, and said anchor bag substrate defining a through opening at an approximate center thereof for receiving at least a portion of the conventional umbrella shaft proximal end; 
 a drawstring received within said circumferential hem, said drawstring defining a first end extending from said first opening in said circumferential hem and a second end extending from said second opening in said circumferential hem, said drawstring provided for reducing said perimeter of said anchor bag substrate when said portion of said selected volume of earthen material is placed on said anchor bag substrate; and 
 a conventional cord lock configured to slidably receive said drawstring first and second ends, said cord lock being slidable along said drawstring when engaged and to maintain a relative position with said drawstring when not engaged; 
 
 an anchor bag harness disposed on and carried by said anchor bag substrate lower surface, said anchor bag harness including:
 a plurality of anchor bag harness straps, each defining a proximal end disposed proximate said anchor bag substrate through opening and a distal end extending beyond said anchor bag substrate perimeter, said plurality of anchor bag harness straps being oriented radially away from said anchor bag substrate through opening and being substantially equally spaced apart in an angular array, a portion of each of said plurality of anchor bag harness straps from about said proximal end to about said anchor bag substrate perimeter being selectively secured to said anchor bag substrate; 
 a plurality of first mating portions of a first conventional buckle, one each of said plurality of first mating portions for engaging said distal end of one each of said plurality of anchor bag harness straps; and 
 a ring member defining an opening having an inner diameter, said ring being disposed proximate said anchor bag substrate through opening, wherein said proximal end of each of said plurality of anchor bag harness straps is received through said ring opening and secured to itself in a conventional manner, wherein each of said anchor bag substrate through opening and said ring member opening are larger than a diameter of at least a portion of said umbrella shaft; 
 
 an upper harness removably attached to the umbrella shaft, and releasably attached to said anchor bag harness, said upper harness including:
 a mounting ring configured to be releasably attachable to said conventional umbrella shaft at a selected location; 
 a plurality of upper harness straps, each defining a proximal end secured to said mounting ring and a distal end, said plurality of upper harness straps being substantially equally spaced apart in an angular array relative to each other of said plurality of upper harness straps, wherein said plurality of upper harness straps is equal to said plurality of anchor bag harness straps; 
 a plurality of second mating portions of said first conventional buckle, one each of said plurality of second mating portions for engaging said distal end of one each of said plurality of upper harness straps, and one each of said plurality of second mating portions of said first conventional buckle being releasably engageable with one of said plurality of first mating portions of said conventional buckle to form a plurality of anchor bag harness strap/upper harness strap pairs, wherein one of said plurality of first mating portions and said plurality of second mating portions is slidably received on a respective of said plurality of anchor bag harness straps and said plurality of upper harness straps in order to adjust tension on each of said plurality of anchor bag harness strap/upper harness strap pairs; 
 at least one retaining strap configured to encircle and be secured to each of said plurality of upper harness straps at a selected location, in order to maintain said angular array; 
 an auxiliary strap defining a proximal end secured in a conventional manner at a selected location to said upper harness and a distal end; and 
 a first mating portion of a second conventional buckle carried by said distal end of said auxiliary strap; and 
 
 a storage bag, said storage bag configured to receive at least said anchor bag and said umbrella shaft proximal end when said anchor bag is not in use and is disposed about said umbrella shaft proximal end, said storage bag defining:
 an open end defining a perimeter about which is formed a circumferential hem extending substantially about said perimeter, said circumferential hem defining a first opening at a first end thereof and a second opening at a second end thereof; 
 a drawstring received within said circumferential hem, said drawstring defining a first end extending from said first opening in said circumferential hem and a second end extending from said second opening in said circumferential hem, said drawstring provided for reducing said perimeter of said storage bag when said anchor bag and said umbrella shaft proximal end are received within said storage bag; 
 a conventional cord lock configured to slidably receive said drawstring first and second ends, said cord lock being slidable along said drawstring when engaged and to maintain a relative position with said drawstring when not engaged; 
 an attachment strap defining a proximal end secured to said storage bag and a distal end; and 
 a second mating portion of said second conventional buckle carried by said distal end of said attachment strap and releasably securable to said first mating portion of said second conventional buckle such that when said umbrella anchor is employed, said storage bag may be removably secured to said upper harness to store miscellaneous personal items. 
 
 
     
     
       17. The umbrella anchor of  claim 16  wherein said earthen material is sand and wherein said conventional umbrella is a beach umbrella. 
     
     
       18. The umbrella anchor of  claim 16  wherein each of said plurality of first mating portions of said first conventional buckle is a male portion and is configured to be slidably engaged with one each of said plurality of anchor bag harness strap distal ends, and wherein each of said plurality of second mating portions of said first conventional buckle is a female portion and is fixedly secured to one each of said plurality of upper harness strap distal ends. 
     
     
       19. The umbrella anchor of  claim 16  wherein said first mating portion of said second conventional buckle is a female portion and wherein said second mating portion of said second conventional buckle is a male portion. 
     
     
       20. The anchor bag of  claim 16  wherein said at least one retaining strap includes an upper retaining strap disposed proximate said proximal end of each of said plurality of upper harness straps and a lower retaining strap disposed proximate said distal end of each of said plurality of the upper harness straps, wherein said upper retaining strap defines a first length and said lower retaining strap defines a second length longer than said first length.